LET'S HOP RIGHT INTO IT! I OWN NOTHING BUT LOVE THE CHARACTERS! HAPPY READING AND LET ME KNOW WHAT YOU THINK I LOVE THE FEED BACK.

CHAPTER 5

DAYS PAST; back story

It had been three days since the incident happened and Jiraiya had put it out of his mind for the most part as his sensei told him to do. The young man had trained most of his morning and was now stripping down to his boxers at the edge of the waterfall on the south side of the village. He loved taking a quick swim at the top of the roaring falls after a long morning training session. He traveled four miles out and back more than three times a week to this place.

The sun beat down on him as his skin was kissed by the sprays of water near the edge of the falls. He shivered at the effect and waded into the water. Swimming over to the rock ledge just at the top of the fall he pulled himself up. His toes curled on the slippery edge of the rocks as he steadied himself releasing charka through his feet as he stood straight taking a deep breath. 'Time to meditate,' he thought to himself as he dropped into a crossed legged position. The young man closed his eyes and connected his hands in his lap. He cleared his mind and began trying to feel the nature chakra that was flowing around him.

Pa had told him time and time again he had to work harder at collecting the nature chakra so he wouldn't need him or Ma to perform sage mode. It wasn't so much the fact that he couldn't do it, it was simply that Jiraiya could not sit still for the time needed to harness enough energy. If he was in battle he would surly die long before he could achieve the strength the jutsu provided.

"Jiraiya?" a feminine voice pulled him from his thoughts as it echoed over the sound of the falls, startling him. Looking around in a rather distant way as he came back to the real world his eyes settled on Tsunade. She stood at the edge of the river looking out at him just as confused as he was. She had a small basket hanging from her arm. Must be collecting herbs he thought.

Jiraiya smiled and waved. The motion made his body shift a few inches causing the raging waters current to catch his knee and tug his body forwards. "Oh shit," he gasped as he tried to grab the rocks around him but the current was too strong.

There was a split second when Tsunade's eye's locked with Jiraiya's and the next he was gone over the edge of the cliff. He saw her drop her basket as his mouth filled with water. He couldn't believe this, Out of all the places to run into someone why did it have to be Tsunade? He pointed his feet and pulled his arms to his sides as he plummeted down, down, down.

The force of the water pushed him deep down under the water. His lungs burned as the he fought to get out from under the crushing weight of the water. He could see the light above him as two arms reached towards him yanking him up.

Jiraiya gasped as his head broke the surface. Tsunade was pulling him out of the water and towards the edge of the river. "What the hell where you even doing up there?!" she yelled at him her face full of worry and anger. "I swear, it's like you don't even think sometimes Jiraiya."

He stared at her in disbelief his feet hit shallow enough river bank for him to stand. "I- why are you yelling at me?! I'm the one who just fell over a waterfall! What are you doing out here so early anyway?" he pulled his hair to the side wringing out his soaking hair. He looked down briefly thanking the gods his underwear stayed on when he went over the falls. "If you hadn't yelled to get my attention this would have never happened."

Tsunade felt her stomach grow warm as she looked him over. He had strong well toned legs that seemed to go on for miles as her eyes racked up his body. His underwear clung to his body. She felt blush creep up her neck and she looked up at him quickly averting her eyes from his…. Well. God he's so hot, even though he was a bit of an idiot she thought.

"How was I to know you would loose your balance so easily? I mean, if you want to fucking meditate I can think of several much safer places to do that." She crossed her arms over her chest defensively.

"What, Is little Tsunade worried about Jiraiya?" her laughed as she turned walking away from him towards the path she had taken to get to the bottom of the falls. Jiraiya's heart fluttered as he took in her hour glass figure from behind. He only waited a second before following her.

"Idiot." She said, "Just stay out of trouble and don't kill yourself." She could feel his eyes on her as she walked. "And your right I should have just kept walking. You could at least say thank you for me running to see if you where okay."

"Hey," he grabbed her wrist gently pulling her to stop and look at him. He felt like an electric surge was running through them at the contact. "now don't be like that. I'm sorry okay? Your right, thank you for checking on me. I'm glade you stopped to say something." He gave a little smile before adding, " Even if you're just nosy."

Tsunade swatted his hand and rolled her eyes. "to think you almost had a fully nice sentence for once."

" I know right?" he started walking and they fell in step side by side, " if you give me a minute I'll get dressed and walk to town with you. I'd love to see what you're working on. I like learning about the different properties plants have." He said suddenly feeling a little shy.

Jiraiya had loved Tsunade since he first met her. He knew one of his main goals in life was to become strong and sweep her off her feet one day. He didn't realize till now that training his body and mind over the past two years he had been away on Mount myobuku made him see her in a whole different light. As he had learned about himself he realized how much depth there was to her.

She looked at him raising an eyebrow, "you sure you didn't hit your head on the way down?"

Jiraiya scoffed, "now who's rude,"

Fifteen minutes later they were walking back towards the village through the shaded forest looking for a list of herbs Tsunade still needed to collect. Jiraiya had the small list in his hand reading it over, "so what is all this for?"

Tsunade was squatted down in front of a bunch of little white flowers. She took a small set of scissors from her pocket and started taking cuttings from the plant. "Well, this is Ashwagandha, You can cross it off the list if you don't mind, It an anti inflammatory aid and an aphrodisiac." She tucked the cuttings gently into her bag and stood turning to look at him. "I'm working on a… kind of food pill and a cream for after care, Something to help with pain and recuperation." She took the list he offered her back from him. "I like to come out here whenever I have free time to collect herbs. It all needs to be fresh and there is such a wide variety over the mountain. "

"Really? I'm surprised I've never seen you out here before. I train out here at least three mornings out of the week. I like this side of the village." He picked a small flower from a bush as they walked slowly down the path, "the nature energy is strongest out here. Here,"

He stopped her and slid the little flower behind her ear. Jiraiya gently brushed a few strands of hair back behind her ear and gave her a little smile," there you go,"

He watched her cheeks turn the most beautiful shade of pint and he tried to keep his cool and she looked up at him with a small smile, "thank you,"

They began to walk again and he rubbed the back of his neck, "well I think that's a great idea though. I know when you fixed my arm after that arrow the cream they gave me to use on the spot was great I got at the infirmary. You can hardly see the scar."

Tsunade nodded and a minute passed as they walked in peaceful silence. They both looked around for herbs that had been on the list. Jiraiya plucked several mint leaves and handed them to Tsunade. He relished in the moments that their hands touched.

"so… you… remember what happened the other day?" Jiraiya said slowly.

Tsunade bit her lip as her heart rate picked up. No way was he bringing this up right now, she thought. She closed her eyes tight for a second. She didn't know if she should play dumb or not. "… Yes…"

She glanced at him. He was a few paces in front of her on the path. He was picking at leaves aimlessly. She had been wondering how this conversation would go, "well… about the kiss and all." He paused for a few seconds as he took a few steps away " I just wanted to say… it…Hurt, but it was nice,"

His tone was soft and kind. Tsunade had seen more and more of this mature side of Jiraiya. She liked it a lot. Tsunade stood and slid the handful of Tulsi into her basket. She looked at him and admired his side profile as he looked out through the woods. "You think so? "

He turned and looked at her and laughed in his obnoxious way he did and he rubbed the back of his neck nervously. " well… yeah I can't stop thinking about it. I know it sounds so typical Jiraiya but…"

He looked at her, his eyes locking with hers, "I've wanted to kiss you for so long and I can't let that be the only kiss I ever share with you Tsunade,"

Tsunade felt an excitement rush though her body. Relax she told herself. You've known he likes you. Now is your chance to let him know you do too. Sadly… she still didn't know how to project her feelings towards him outwardly. She laughed. She laughed so hard she snorted.

His face dropped in complete embarrassment. She covered her mouth, "oh no, no, Jiraiya… I'm sorry I -"

She reached for him as he turned to walk away. She knew his pride was hurt. She took a few steps catching his elbow. "Wait,"

He looked down at her His eyes searching her face. She had never realized how much he really cared about her. Even if she chose to not love him back she knew he would always protect her and be there for her. They stood so close their fronts almost touched. Her hand still on his arm She took a deep breath. "I- don't want it to be either okay? But I've …never… really kissed anyone before." His eye's searched her face and before she could talk she added, "And I'm not telling this to you so you can run around and tell everyone you where my first kiss. I really-"

Jiraiya moved his hand to the side of her cheek silencing her. His heart welled and his insides hummed with excitement at the feeling of her skin. He had loved her for years and he had been wanting to put all those feeling into a real kiss. It was all he could think about over the past few days. All he wanted was this single chance. His eyes locked on her lips as he leaned towards her. He heard her breath hitch and he smiled his perfect crooked smile. Their lips danced centimeters apart. He watched her eyes flutter closed before he closed his own.

It was as if time itself stood still. The sounds of the birds, the gentle breeze ruffling the trees, the rays of sunlight that danced through the canopy. Jiraiya's lips met Tsunade's; rightness flowed through Jiraiya's body. A feeling of finding home, a pureness he never knew existed. Their lips gently separated and pressed back together in a row of several full little kisses. Jiraiya slid his hand from her cheek down her neck. He felt her shudder against him as she reached up sliding her arms around his neck.

His hands made it to her sides and the little kisses came to an end. They both looked into each other faces, smiles painting both their faces as they both experienced this feeling for the first time together.

"Was that better?" Tsunade asked in a soft voice, her cheeks rosy red.

"Mhm," he nodded resting his forehead against hers. " I think I can truly die happy now."

REAL TIME

Tsunade, ton ton and Shizune stared into the window of a medical herb shop. She smiled as she recalled the day they really first kissed. She wished she could go back to 16 and really let him have her for all these years. She would have done so many things differently.

"My lady?" Shizune stopped looking back at her master. The blonde looked up at her. "Are you okay? You've been very… out of it today."

Tsunade signed and rolled her shoulders." Lots on my mind is all…"

"ooooonnkkk" Ton Ton squeaked out looking up at her. Tsunade leaned down picking the little pig up and carrying her as she started to walk again.

"- just two weeks! That right! I've been saving all my time off to see the chunin exams" Shizune and her both glanced into the dumpling shop they passed. "hmmm, the chunin exams. I remember them like it was yesterday." Shizune said dreamily.

Tsunade wondered if Jiraiya had made it to the village yet. She wondered if he would go to the hot springs first, try and catch a peak and check out the girls. Or would he go for the hokage's first and give him a copy of his dirty books. "You where one of a very talented group I remember…"

The brunette nodded, "it was! I remember…" Shizune began recapping a memory with great vigor as Tsunade thought back to Jiraiya. She remembered when they did the chunin exams. What a mess they had been in….